The truth about a complex built for veterans and the middle class and how it has evolved through the years to become one of the more interesting and controversial of New York stories.

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Management has two priorities: 1) Making sure money is made, hence upgrading and filling up apartments is their goal. "Amenities" are important in selling the place, though few residents use them. 2) If someone needs medical attention, Public Safety will be there, if alerted.

Quality of life issues are not that important, however. Things like the carpet rule or outsider dogs. These "rules" tend to be ignored, on purpose it seems. So you will see a lot that isn't taken care of properly, and complaints will be met with a creative excuse and a smile.

"Peace and quiet" must be a cruel joke, though this property is sold that way. There can be no peace and quiet as ALL apartments must be upgraded, which includes the installation of an AC unit below the window. Aside from the continual construction about the neighborhood, there is a new and noisy subway extension being built along East 14 st and the shut down of the L line. "Choosing" to live in NYC, now the newest mantra, is a fabrication when the talk is of ST and PCV, which was traditionally quiet, with no construction noise.

Though money was always important, it is now more important than ever. Money rules many things, as you will find.

At this point, 30 years into living here and seeing many things, I can state that Management and their reps are BS-ing us. I can't say that loudly enough: We are being BS-ed. I don't see any genuine change, though the "selling" of this place is intense. Few of the "rules" will be enforced, as Management doesn't want to lose customers or potential customers. Where personal integrity is a hallmark of an excellent management style, this integrity is not seen in enforcing some of the rules.

About those "club cars" we see going this way and that way, and outside of Stuy Town or Peter Cooper Village:

Thursday, April 26, 2012

PCVST Living Photosets

Looks very pretty! BTW, one thing that I've noticed with my own eyes, and not just in going through these photos, is that many of the amenity indoor events (such as those that take place in Oval Lounge) are attended by older residents and seniors, sometimes exclusively so.

Oh, and there's an "Oval Cafe" on the way, already rumored from the "refreshing" being done to Oval Lounge.

UPDATE: There's been some commentary about the carpeting that's shown, or not shown, in the official photos of PCVST. The rule in PCVST is that all apartment areas, excepting bathrooms and kitchens, must have a carpet covering of 80%. I checked the first photosets page and found only one photo that did not show a carpet. See first photo below. All other photos I checked randomly showed carpeting, usually more than ads from Tishman Speyer used to show.

25 comments:

Anonymous
said...

Because no self-respecting 18-29 demo would ever be caught dead in those “amenities”. Although, if you all remember, that's the demo the original TS drawings showed using these dumps. By the way, something was recently approved for the old “Super Dive” space. Woo Hoo!

If you notice, as in most of the pictures for the promotion of this dorm dump, none of the apartments are in compliance for the 80% carpet rule.

Rose Associates and CW Capital are NOT interested and put NO resources into enforcing their own rules, including the 80% floor covering rule. They're too busy putting time into marketing their 500+ social events! Most of their marketing photos show no or little floor covering and are an INSULT to tenants who care about the quiet enjoyment of their homes. No wonder it feels like the inmates are running the asylum. They are! If tenants do buy this property, the first order of business will be to show Adam Rose and his crappy management company, Rose Associates, the door! Can't wait for the day!

As I recall, there was a Reggae band concert (the TS era?) that was very well attended. I heard you could have got a contact high anywhere on the Oval. Too bad, I have been off the weed for some time now. Residents and their guests? NOT. Cough.

Anony 4.11 PM-This is “cough" again. You like Reggae? So do I . Then get off your ass, like me, and explore NYC for Reggae events instead of letting the Oval, a true tranquil gem of Manhattan, be destroyed.

I live near the Oval and it is not reasonable or fair that I am assaulted all summer long by the concerts, movies, whatever. I complain to Security and Management and maybe the volume on the loudspeakers gets turned down for that particular concert or activity, but what I don't understand is why the person who controls the volume on the loudspeakers hasn't learned NOT to raise the dial above a certain point EVER for any event because it's too loud for tenants living close by. And don't tell me it's because too many different people control the sound level. It's up to Management to make sure that EVERYONE knows how high they can raise the volume. Put a BIG sign on the control panel that everyone sees. That'll do it. Management, it's time that you get your act together around this important quality of life issue.

I think it was the last “concert” from last year, some washed up country/southern rock band (?), the lead singer was screaming at the top of his lungs into the microphone, “Come on Stuyvesant Town, let me hear ya!”. Facing the Oval, there was no escape from this idiot. Pathetic. When the “concert" schedule comes out, I guess my wife will just have to leave our apartment for each “concert” to escape the BS and then scurry back when it over. It’s always good idea on weekends to get out of one's apartment to explore NYC but why is this not my choice, why are we forced to do this due to some inane marketing strategy, events that are always promoted via outside venues (college radio stations, blogs, etc.) to non-residents and admit non-residents even when CW Capital specs out in their internal announcements as open only to the infamous "Residents and their guests”. But as the STR has reported, they are probably just going to drop that charade for this year as well.

This morning , I went for a run along the East River park. After my shower, went out, did various chores, now home with my wife, the usual nice sounds of kids having fun at playground 12 drifting in, listening to 89.9, the Columbia college radios station. They have a Civil War song show going on. Wonderful. I’ll guess I will have to kiss this all goodbye fairly shorty.

Until There Is Silence No More

The Tenants Association and our then councilman Dan Garodnick have mysteriously remained silent about a purported incident that occurred on July 12, 2017: the mugging by a group of individuals of someone right by Peter Cooper Village, along 20th Street.

I write this on May 3, 2018: Since this year, there have been three suicides in ST/PCV. Aside from silence by almost everyone, there occurred a suicide where sulfuric acid was used and the city had to be called in, including the Fire Dept. As of now, there has been a general state of silence about this suicide, even though other resident lives were at danger. Yes, our councilperson is silent. The TA is silent. Obviously, Management is silent, too.

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"We'll be introducing a new process to identify registered dogs thus enabling Public Safety Officers to clearly approach offending dog owners. The registration will hang from the leash handle; clearly identifying the dog as registered.

"If the dog is not registered by May 1; a summons will be issued at the point of contact. If we learn the dog owner is not a resident, they will be escorted off the property."

Rick Hayduk, CEO and General Manager of PCVST. Letter to Barry Shapiro, February 2016.

STR here: I have been around since the inception of this dog policy and I have NEVER seen anyone escorted out of ST or PCV with their non-lanyard dog. But I have seen, many times, a dog owner from outside, and his/her dog, casually walking through ST or PCV.

THINKING of Renting in PCVST?

Read Yelp reviews to find out what it's like living here. Please note: All apartments are currently "rent-stabilized" but that doesn't prevent apartments from going up to 4K to 6K a month and even higher. How does this happen? Ask our politicians! Fact: Now less than half of the complex's apartments have the old rents and it's getting worse year by year--or better if you are the Real Estate Board of New York!

The Other Yelp Reviews

Yelp can be tricky and bounce reviews for a variety of reasons, like being a member and posting just one review. Very often, however, these reviews hold important truths about what's being reviewed. READ THESE TOO.

BICYCLES, MOPEDS, SCOOTERS, ETC.

Of course, "private property" but "public access" - whatever that means! And if a part of it is public access, do the rules of the city apply to our roads and sidewalks? Or does anything give because this complex is "private property"? Who comes here in case of a fire in one of our buildings? The Stuy Town Fire Brigade?

Hint: Look both ways if you are in the complex. Look on the ground, too!

61.03 Control of dogs and other animals to prevent nuisance. (a) A person who owns, possesses or controls a dog, cat or other animal shall not permit the animal to commit a nuisance on a sidewalk of any public place, on a floor, wall, stairway, sidewalk, lawn, garden or roof of any public or private premises used in common by the public, or on a fence, wall [or], stairway or entranceway of a building abutting on a public place

Banned & Oversize Dog Breeds in Stuy Town

Looks like there is some difficulty in enforcing the ban on certain dog breeds allowed inside Stuy Town/Peter Cooper Village. Somehow pitbulls and pitbull mixes have been registered in STPCV and are allowed to be freely walked about the grounds! Registered dogs in the complex are max 50 pounds. Total, if there is more than one! More than two, it's illegal. It's going to get worse, and, face it, Stuyvesant Town and Peter Cooper Village will never be like it once was.

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Read it and Weep

Current Value of ST/PCV

Was 5.4 Billion Dollars when Tishman Speyer bought the place.Became 1.7 Billion Dollars when Tishman Speyer left, with their tail between their legs. Of course, tenants now have to make up the loss.

Ex-landlord

Rob Speyer

1947 Stuy Town Plaque Honoring Met Life Chairman F.H. Ecker (Removed in 2002 and never seen again)

"... who with the vision of experience and the energy of youth conceived and brought into being this project, and others like it, that families of moderate means might live in health, comfort and dignity in park-like communities and that a pattern might be set of private enterprise productively devoted to public service."

I am writing on behalf of everyone at Tishman Speyer to express how honored we are to become part of your outstanding community. We are a business with deep roots in New York, a true love of our city and a great respect for the neighborhoods that make it special. We are committed to maintaining the unique character and environment that have made Peter Cooper Village and Stuyvesant Town such a wonderful place to live for so long. We look forward to providing you an extraordinary level of service and attentiveness that will be the source of pride and satisfaction for the entire community.

Neighborhood Recommendations

New to Stuy Town/Peter Cooper Village? Here are some basic recommendations.

Best supermarket: Associated on 14th St. between 1st Ave. and Ave A. The cheapest prices, fantastic weekly sales, very affordable lunches; solid, responsive management, but earthy. Some of the young female cashiers have attitude to spare, though. May be too far for Peter Cooper residents.

Best gym: Don't waste your money on the Oval Fitness Gym. Instead go to the earthy but real Asser Levy Recreational Center, right above 23rd St on Asser Levy Place (near the FDR Drive). $75 for a year's membership; seniors are almost free. Contains seasonal indoor and outdoor swimming pools, ping-pong table, two pool tables. Called by some rich people who wouldn't get caught going there "the prison gym," and you know why.

A Stuy Town favorite is Lenz's on 20 St. between the 20 St. Loop. The way New York used to be. Be careful of unwanted "pepper" in your food, however. Lenz's got a B grade rating and was temporarily closed down due to an order from the Health Department. Bruno's on First Avenue is more upscale, with a greater selection of food items (higher-priced, too), but was closed down temporarily by the Health Department. Stuy Town's own cafe was closed, too! And not because of all the dogs that hover and piss outside.

Gracefully has two locations, but we prefer for its size the one on 1st Ave. Prices are high and reflect the new tenants that are currently renting Stuy Town and Peter Cooper apartments. ("Do you have a credit card?") We like Gracefully's lunch specials, which are somewhat affordable.

I priced the CVS on 1st Ave near 14st. The non-aerosol hairspray was 20 cents above CVS' own website price, and one of the highest in NY. (Yes, I have hair.) You can save at least a dollar or more buying at another place. So beware. Look around for a better deal on all your items.

I love warm Quaker Oats in the morning. Gristedes is not the place to get it, nor is Associated, though their price is less. Look around!

Macular Degeneration Support Group

If you are currently diagnosed with Macular Degeneration, the New York Eye & Ear Infirmary is offering a support group for you. Conveniently located next to the Peter Cooper Village Stuyvesant Town apartment complex, our group offers the opportunity to share stories with other members, listen to expert guest speakers, and learn coping strategies to reduce stress. Our group runs on the first Wednesday of every month and we would enjoy seeing you there.
Please contact Baptiste Nicolas, Social Work Assistant at 212-979-4105 for further information and to see if this group is right for you!